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6th February 2004
Kyocera Introduces the ''CONTAX SL300R
Released by Kyocera:

Editor's note: according to Kyocera UK these cameras will be available from Monday 9th February 2004

Introducing the ''CONTAX SL300R Digital Camera Equipped with the Carl Zeiss T* Lens and Image Processing System ''RTUNE''

Bringing Together the High Picture Definition Offered by the Carl Zeiss T* Lens and Kyocera's Proprietary Image Processing Technology

(This document was translated from the Japanese press release.)
November 27, 2003

Kyocera Corporation (President: Yasuo Nishiguchi) is pleased to announce the release of ''CONTAX SL300R T*,'' the new 3.17 million effective pixel compact digital camera in early December this year. The camera is equipped with a Carl Zeiss T* Lens that boasts outstanding picture definition and also features the ''RTUNE'' image processing system that achieves both high-speed operations and high resolution.


CONTAX SL300R T* (Body color: titanium. Above: When not in use, Below: When shooting)
CONTAX SL300R T* When shooting

The CONTAX SL300R T* is equipped with the ''Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar T* 5.8-17.4mm F2.8-4.7,''( *1) a 3x optical zoom lens developed by Carl Zeiss, and provides clear image thanks to the T* coating applied to the lens surface. The adoption of Kyocera¡Çs proprietary image processing system ''RTUNE'' also enables full-memory, consecutive shooting at around 3.5 frames/second and fine color gradation with a reduction in noise.
The 16-mm-thick full-flat body makes the camera highly portable when not in use. Rotating the lens section for shooting offers free choice of camera angles and easy framing.
The magnesium die-cast body also features easy-to-hold genuine leather coverings on the front casing. A filter can be attached by using the special hood and adapter on the front of the lens.
(*1) Equivalent to around 38-115mm on a 35-mm camera.

Product name CONTAX SL300R T*
Body color Titanium
Scheduled release date Early December 2003
Manufacturer's recommended retail price Price set by outlet
Sales target (total domestic and overseas sales) 20,000 units/month
Standard set Camera, PC cable with USB connection, lithium-ion battery pack, camera case, cleaner, AC adapter, hand strap, CD-ROM (driver software and image management software), special hood, filter adapter.


  • Background to the development
    With the growing number of digital camera users, the needs of users are also becoming more individual and diverse.
    Against such a backdrop, the development of this new digital camera represents a totally new fusion between Kyocer's proprietary image processing technology and Carl Zeiss optical technology. Whereas the CONTAX Tvs Digital released in February this year is intended for a tool for creating photos that faithfully reproduce the photographer's vision, the CONTAX SL300R T* to be released this time will be introduced to the market ''high-quality daily necessities'' that lets users develop a closer affinity with photography as a portable communication tool and experience the joy of high-definition and high-speed performance.

  • Features of the product

    1. Equipped with the 3x Optical zoom lens, Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar T* 5.8-17.4mm F2.8-4.7
    The CONTAX SL300R T* is equipped with a 3x optical zoom lens for digital cameras, consisting of six elements in six groups, including aspheric lenses, which was developed using the latest Carl Zeiss optical technology. The lens focal length ranges from 5.8 mm (wide-angle) to 17.4 mm (telephoto), which corresponds to about 38-115 mm on a 35-mm camera, and achieves outstanding color reproduction and rich color gradation. Additionally, Carl Zeiss' special multi-layer T* coating dramatically reduces flare or ghost imaging that are generally the cause of poor resolution, and the result is clear, sharp images. Plus, the 3x optical zoom can be used with the 2x digital zoom to shoot at a maximum of 6x zoom. You can also use a digital zoom of up to 8x when playing back images, so you can take a look at the images you have taken.

    2. Features the image processing system ''RTUNE''
    High-speed, full-memory, consecutive shooting
    The CONTAX SL300R T* is capable of full-memory, consecutive shooting at around 3.5 frames/second at the highest resolution. The liquid crystal monitor follows and displays images in real-time during consecutive shooting. If it is difficult to photograph the subject, such as children or pets with fleeting expressions, or moving subjects at an athletics meet or in group photograph with a number of people, taking consecutive photographs enables you to select the best shots afterward. Kyocera proposes this as a new way to take photos by making the most of the advantages offered by digital cameras.
    * Full-memory consecutive shooting means shooting successive images until the capacity of the memory card is reached. It is available when using an SD memory card with a transfer speed of at least 10 MB per second for high-speed recording. (The consecutive shooting speed differs depending on the shooting conditions, the camera settings and memory card status. Free capacity may remain in the memory card, depending on images to be photographed.)

    Close to the fastest performance in the industry
    The camera starts up in less than one second and features a shutter time-lag of approximately 0.07 seconds, giving the camera close to the fastest performance in the industry. When you turn on the camera, you don't have to wait for it to be ready, and when you take photographs, the camera responds when you press the shutter, so you can seize the exact moment to take your shots.

    Images with a fine array of gradations
    The high-speed processor of the image processing system, RTUNE, consists of an analog front end and a digital processor. It first adjusts the RGB color balance of the analog data received in the CCD at the analog front end, and then converts it to a digital signal (A/D conversion).
    The A/D conversion process provides 16-bit internal conversion of the data and sends it as 12-bit digital data to the next digital processor. The digital processor that receives the digital data produces the final image data and outputs it at high speed, creating low-noise digital data. By drastically reducing a wide range of noise generated in the digital images, it is possible to reproduce natural color and a fine array of gradations. To reproduce clear images, the image pickup device of the CONTAX SL300R T* uses a 1/2.7'' square pixel CCD with an original color filter, featuring 3,340,000 pixels in total.

    3. Easy framing is possible thanks to the ''Easy-Framing Body'' with rotating lens section.
    This 16-mm-thick, full-flat body boasts outstanding portability and can easily fit into a breast pocket or bag. The camera has a lightweight, but durable, magnesium die-cast body. The Easy-Framing Body with a rotating lens section also allows you to find a comfortable position to shoot in a wide variety of photographic situations. In macro shooting where you may need to shoot at high or low angles, rotating lens section enables framing at an angle that is easy to see on the monitor.

    4. Superfine, Smooth Recording Function for VGA Moving Images with Audio
    The camera enables you to easily shoot superfine, smooth moving images of VGA size (640 x 480 pixels) with audio at 30 frames/second up to the maximum capacity of the memory card(*2)
    The record file is in AVI format and you can play it back easily on the liquid crystal monitor of the camera or a personal computer. (To play back your moving images on a personal computer, it is necessary to install QuickTime 4.1 or later.)
    (*2) It is possible to shoot moving images up to the maximum capacity of the memory card when using an SD memory card with a recording speed of at least 10 MB per second for high-speed recording. (The shooting time differs depending on the shooting conditions, camera settings and memory card status.)

    5. A Scene Mode Facilitates the Photographic Settings According to the Situation
    The camera incorporates a scene mode that enables the camera to make the most suitable photographic settings according to the situation, based on seven predefined settings. They are: Standard, Sport, Portrait, Night View, Night View Portrait, Macro and Distant View. Each of the settings can be easily selected using the scene button.

    6. A Function for Setting a Customized Start Screen Consisting of Your Favorite Image
    The camera incorporates a function for setting a customized start screen that allows you to set an image you have photographed. The image appears whenever you turn on the power. If you use your favorite photo of yourself, your family or your pet, you can have special affection for the camera as belonging only to you.

    7. A Function to Resize Your Photos for Easy Handling
    It is possible to reduce the size of an image to 320 x 240 pixels or 160 x 120 pixels after it has been taken, and store it so that it can be handled via e-mail or by a portable terminal such as a PDA. You can select the new image size of the photos from three options, whole image, quarter area and one-sixteenth area.
    Using this function in combination with a PDA that incorporates an SD memory card slot allows you to easily create an image size suitable for the liquid crystal screen of the PDA.

    8. Special hood included. Filter attachable.
    The CONTAX SL300R T* also comes with a special lens hood to be fitted to the front of the lens. A filter adapter is also included so that any commercially available 28-mm filter can be attached. When a filter is attached, you can see the effects of the filter directly on the liquid crystal monitor, which makes taking photos even more fun.

    Additional Information

  • Using the CONTAX SL300R T* with a personal computer

    Windows requirements:
    OS: Preinstalled with Microsoft Windows 98, Windows 98 SE, Windows Me, Windows 2000 Professional, Windows XP Home Edition or Professional. Performance is not guaranteed if these operating systems are upgraded. 64MB memory or more, USB terminal and CD-ROM drive.
    For Microsoft Windows 98 and Windows 98 SE, a USB driver will need to be installed. The USB driver is included on the CD-ROM that comes with your camera.

    Macintosh requirements:
    OS: Preinstalled with MacOS9.0 to 9.2 or OS X v.10.3 (excluding the OS X server). Performance is not guaranteed if these operating systems are upgraded. USB terminal and CD-ROM drive.

    * Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and other countries.
    * QuickTime, Macintosh and Mac OS are registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. in the United States.
    * Other company names and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

  • Optional accessories
    Product name Model Recommended retail price (plus tax) Release date
    SD/MMC reader (USB interface)
    Components:

    1) Reader body
    2) USB cable (1 m)
    3) Driver software CD-ROM
    Windows 98/Me/2000/XP (not compatible with NT)
    MacOS8.6 USB Version 1.33f2 or later (compatible with OS X)
    SDR-1 5,800 yen Now on sale
    Lithium-ion battery pack BP-780S 4,500 yen Now on sale
    * All prices in this press release exclude consumption tax.

  • Main Specifications of the CONTAX SL300R T*
    Camera type Digital still camera with record, playback, and erase modes
    Recording media/ recording method SD memory card/MMC (Multi Media Card), in compliance with DCF (*Note 1) (Exif Ver 2.2), in compliance with JPEG, DPOF compatible (*Note 2)
    Effective pixels 3,170,000 pixels
    Image pickup device 1/2.7" square pixel original color filter interlace reading system CCD (total number of pixels: 3,340,000)
    Still image sizes 2048 x 1536, 1600 x 1200, 1280 x 960, 640 x 480
    Image quality
    Two levels, F (fine) and N (normal)
    Moving image sizes 640 x 480, 320 x 240, 160 x 120
    Moving image frame rate 15 frames/second, 30 frames/second
    Lens Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar T* Zoom Lens (six elements in six groups),
    Focal length: 5.8-17.4mm (equivalent to around 38-115 mm on 35-mm camera) Brightness: F2.8-4.7
    Electric zoom x1.3, x1.6, x2.0
    Focal adjustment Video feedback auto focus (wide AF or spot AF switchable) and manual focus settings possible
    Range of shooting Approximately 60 cm to infinity from the front of the cover glass, approximately 20 to 60 cm in macro (with fixed wide-angle parameters)
    Exposure control
    - Control method Programmed AE, aperture priority AE
    - Light metering system Can be selected from three modes: Evaluative metering, center-weighted metering, spot metering system
    - Metering link range LV6 to LV16
    - Exposure compensation +2.0EV to -2.0EV (1/3 increments)
    - Aperture Fixed (f2.8, f7.5*), auto
    * f-stop converted for brightness
    Shutter Using both CCD electronic shutter and programmed electronic shutter with independent aperture control, 1 second to 1/2000 second, can be set from one of 2 seconds, 4 seconds and 8 seconds due to the long exposure mode
    White balance Auto, sunlight, incandescent light, cloudy weather, fluorescent, preset
    Color modes Color, monochrome, sepia
    Sharpness +3 to -1 (5 levels)
    Color saturation +, 0, - (3 levels)
    Sensitivity setting AUTO, ISO100, ISO200, ISO400, ISO800 equivalent
    Liquid crystal monitor 1.5" 118,000-pixel TFT color liquid crystal monitor featuring a dual transmission and reflection system
    * Liquid crystal brightness is adjustable, and backlight can be switched ON/OFF.
    Flash Built-in system,shooting range (for sensitivity setting at AUTO): approx. 60 cm to 2.5 m (in the wide mode), approx. 60 cm to 1.8 m (in the telephoto mode)
    Flash mode (1) Auto flash, (2) Auto flash for red-eye reduction, (3 ) Flash disabled, (4) Fill-in flash, (5) Fill-in flash for red-eye reduction (only when set at the long exposure)
    Scene mode (1) Standard mode, (2) Sport mode, (3) Portrait mode, (4) Night view mode, (5) Night view portrait mode, (6) Macro mode, (7) Distant view mode
    Moving image recording mode File format: AVI, can be selected from with or without audio
    Moving image recording time Up to full capacity of the memory card (When using an SD memory card with a transfer speed of at least 10 MB per second for high-speed recording. Free capacity may remain in the memory card, depending on the shooting conditions.)
    Playable environment in personal computer: QuickTime 4.1 or later (Windows, Macintosh)
    Other shooting modes Long exposure mode (can be selected from Off, 2 seconds, 4 seconds or 8 seconds), self timer mode (can be selected from 2 seconds or 10 seconds), manual focus setting, on/off switch for REC review, on/off switch for electronic zoom
    Consecutive shooting Approximately 3.5 frames/second, up to full capacity of the memory card
    (When using an SD memory card with a recording speed of at least 10 MB per second for high-speed recording. Free capacity may remain in the memory card, depending on the shooting conditions. It differs depending on the shooting conditions, camera settings and memory card status)
    After-recording for still image Up to 30 seconds for one image
    Resize Images can be reduced to a size of 320 x 240 or 160 x 120. The area to be resized can be selected. File format: JPEG
    Playback mode Multi image display (six images), single display, after-recording (audio memo for still image), protect, erase (single image), erase all images, rotate, slide show, resize, DPOF setting, close-up playback, thumbnail playback, playback of moving images shot by this camera, information display
    Setup function AF mode (SAF, CAF), brightness adjustment of the liquid crystal, backlight adjustment, date setting, date insertion, card format, auto power-off setting, mode lock, shutter sound/operational sound setting, language selection (Japanese, English, German, French, Spanish, Chinese), video output switch (NTSC, PAL), consecutive file number reset, setting reset, change of selected color, start screen selection, on/off switch for REC review
    nput/output terminal DC input (using a dedicated AC adapter), USB terminal (mini-B)
    Power source 3.7V lithium-ion battery 780 mAh,
    Dedicated AC adapter
    Number of images that can be taken Approximately 100 images*
    * When using the attached new lithium-ion battery, at room temperature, based on the Kyocera measurement standards: 50% flash, 2048 x 1536, normal image quality
    Dimensions 100 mm width x 62.5 mm height x 16 mm depth, excluding protrusions
    Weight Approximately 125g, excluding battery and the recording media
    Operating temperature 0 - 45 degrees Celsius (no condensation)
    * Note 1: DCF is an abbreviation of the Design rule for Camera File system, the standard of the Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association
    (JEITA). The standard is intended to facilitate the use of image files primarily of digital cameras in related equipment.
    * Note 2: DPOF is an abbreviation of Digital Print Order Format established by the companies, Canon Inc., Eastman Kodak Company, Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd., and
    Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. This standard is for recording specific information from images taken by digital camera, such as printed images and number of
    images, in recording media.

  • Estimated number of images to be shot and recording pixels
    (When shooting only in the same mode with a 16-MB SD memory card)

    Camera mode, consecutive shooting mode
    Number of pixels Image compression ratio File capacity(*1) Number of images to be saved in the memory card
    2048 x 1536 F (Fine) Approximately 1.6 MB Approximately 9 images
    N (Normal) Approximately 800 KB Approximately 18 images
    1600 x 1200 F (Fine) Approximately 1.0 MB Approximately 15 images
    N (Normal) Approximately 500 KB Approximately 30 images
    1280 x 960 F (Fine) Approximately 600 KB Approximately 23 images
    N (Normal) Approximately 300 KB Approximately 46 images
    640 x 480 F (Fine) Approximately 160 KB Approximately 90 images
    N (Normal) Approximately 70 KB Approximately 170 images


    Moving image mode
    Number of pixels Frame rate (Number of frames of moving images recorded in one second) Time(*2)
    640 x 480(*3) 15 fps 12 seconds
    30 fps 6 seconds

    320 x 240(*3)

     

    15 fps 48 seconds
    30 fps 24 seconds
    160 x 120 15 fps 173 seconds
    30 fps 90 seconds
    (*1) It differs depending on the subject. This is only the estimated capacity.
    (*2) When shooting with audio until the full capacity of the memory card is used. It differs depending on the subject. This is only an estimated value.
    (*3) It may not be able to record for the above time unless an SD memory card with a recording speed of at least 10 MB per second for high-speed recording is used.

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